Cracker-box.



P. J. POWERS L. L. GUIBORD.

GRAGKER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1910.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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PATRICK J. POWERS, 0F WINTHROP, AND LEONA MASSACHUSETTS.

RD L. GUIBOBD, 0F. ARLINGTON,

CRACKER-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed June 23, 1910. Serial N 0. 568,443.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, PATRICK J. Pownns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop, county of Suffolk, and State of ll/Iassachusetts, and LEONARD L. GUIBORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington, of Massachusetts, have invented an v Improvement in Cracker-Boxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. I

This invention relates to boxes of that typeused for packing and shipping crackers, wafers and similar articles.

Crackers are now commonly'packed and shipped into a box of a size to hold four, five or more layers or tiers and it is customary for the grocer or retailer to retail the crackers directly from these boxes. It is, however, more or less inconvenient to reach into the box and remove the last two or three layers and, moreover, when the top few layers have been sold from the box the retailer does not always know how many more layers there are in the box without removing the crackers to see.

By our invention we have provided a novel box arranged with a false bottom so that whenever the top layer of crackers has been sold the false bottom may be elevated one step so as to bring the next layer to the top of the box, and when this second layer has been sold the bottom can-be elevated again so as to bring the third layer to the top of the box and so on untilall the layers are sold. In this way the layer from which the crackers are being sold is always at the top of the box and can be readily reached. Moreover, the construction is such that as the false bottom is elevated an indication of the extent of the elevation is made so that a person can always tell just how many more layers there are in the box.

We will first describe one embodiment of our invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a cracker box embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on substan tially the line w-m, Fig. 1, showing the false bottom raised; Fig. 3 is a detail of the safety device hereinafter described; Fig. 4 is county of Middlesex', and State to the under side a detail of the hinge member for hinging the supports or legs to the false bottom. Thebox is shown at3 and it may be of anysuitable or usual construction. Wooden boxes are now commonly used and the box shown in the drawing is a wooden box arranged to hold four layers 80, 81, 82, 83 of crackers, as shown in Fig. 1. Situated within the box is a false bottom 4.- on which the bottom layer 80 of crackers rests, and means are provided for elevating this false bottom and for supporting it indifierent elevated positions. As herein shown the false bottom has associated therewith at each side thereof two handles or bail-shaped members 5 which lie against the sides of the box 3 and by which the false bottom may be raised into any desired position. These handles 5 extend loosely through the false bottom 4: and are bent laterally at their lower ends, as at 61. The handles'are of a length substantially equal to the depth of the box, as clearly seen in Figs. land 2. With this construction when the handles are raised the bent ends 61,.engage the bottom side of the false bottom thereby lifting it up, and when the false bottom is in a partially elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2, and. the handles 5 are released they will drop down into the box so as to be out of the way.

WVe have provided herein a plurality of legs or supportsof different lengths adapted to support the false bottom in different positions corresponding to the positions of the different layers of crackers. The supports herein shown are U-shaped supports pivoted of the false bottom and these supports are arranged in pairs. We have illustrated three pairs of such supports and they are designated 6, 7 and 8 respectively. The two supports 6 are of a height to support the false bottom in the dotted line position a, Fig. 1; the supports 7 are of a height to support the false bottom in the dotted line position Z2 Fig. 1; and the supports 8are of a height to support the false bottom in the dotted line position 0 Fig. 1, or the full line position Fig. 2. These pairs of supports are pivoted to the underside of the false bottom as above described, and are adapted to be folded against the false bottom, as seen in Fig. 1.

We have herein shown each support as made from a piece of wire bent into U-shape and provided at its ends with the laterallyextending fingers or trunnions 10, said trunnions being pivotally secured .to the clips 11 that are fastened to the underside of -the false bottom. When the false bottom is at as shown in Fig.1, the

are folded against the underside layer of crackers has been sold the false bottom may be elevated again until the sup-- ports 7 hang vertically when such supports will hold said false bottom in the dotted line position the top of the box. When all but the last layer of crackers has been sold the false bottom may be lifted again until the longest supports 8 hang vertically and serve to support the bottom. In order to permit the bottom to be placed at intermediate positions if desired we have provided on the inside of the box at each end a notched member 12, and have provided spring-pressed pawls or catches 13 in the ends of the false bottom so that as the bottom is raised these catches will spring into the notches 12 and thus hold said bottom in any desired adj usted position. These spring catches also act as safety devices to prevent the bottom from dropping down in case'the supports 6, 7 or 8 should slip. We have also provided an additional safety and which consists of a spring finger lt secured to the underside of the false bottom and provided with the downwardly-extending lip 15 that engages the inside wall of the box 3. Thissafety catchl l permits the false bottom to be readily raised but will prevent its being forced downwardly. The. false bottom is provided with .an aperture may be first place either After the top layer 83 of crackers 7) Fig. 1 with the third layer 81 at device illustrated in Fig. 3

16 opposite the safety catch 14 through which a piece of wireor other implement inserted to release the catch whenever it is desired to lower the bottom. The false bottom may be placed in the box in the by withdrawing the spring catches 13 or by placing one end of the false bottom in position and then swinging the other end down. To withdraw the catches we have shown them with finger pieces 99.

The invention is not limited to the constructional details illustrated and various changes in the parts may be made, therefore, without departing from the invention.

Having fully described our. invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a cracker box, the combination with a box body having a fixed bottom, of a false bottom within the box, a U-shaped handle at each of two opposite sides of the false bottom, the sides of the handles sliding loosely through apertures in the false bottom and being laterally bent at their lower ends to prevent them from being drawn through the false bottom, said handles being of a length equal to the depth of the box body whereby when the handles are not in use the lower ends of them rest against the fixed bottom of the box and their upper ends come substantially flush with the top of the box and are accessible regardless of the position of the false bottom, and a plurality of swinging supportspivoted to the false bottom and adapted to sustain the latter at different elevations. I

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing'witnesses.

PATRICK J. POWERS. LEONARD L. GUIBOBD.

YVitnesses LOUIS 0. SMITH, THoMAs J. DRUMMOND.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

by addressing'the .Gommiszicner of Patents,

Washington. D. 0; 

